The fox minister in the late Tang Dynasty

Chapter 75
The mist on the river surface has dissipated, the rain clouds have subsided, and the sun shimmers on the river, reflecting the twisting clouds on the water surface, which are quietly pushed away by the prow of the sailing boat.

In later generations, Geng Qing traveled all year round, how could he have the time to stand alone on the bow like now, looking at the lush mountains and rivers on both sides of the bank with his hands behind his back, and the houses in the distance surrounded by smoke from the mountains.

Wanting to chant a poem on the spur of the moment, he opened his mouth slightly and then closed it, as if he remembered everything except the bright moonlight in front of the bed, and returned everything to the teacher.

And I will remember that song because of the dirty jokes.

'Oh, I didn't think so before, but now I find that I look more and more like a married woman Cao. '

The river is spacious and the waves are not in a hurry. A long row of three large boats was sent across the water surface of the Fen River. Shen Qian turned back to the bow of the boat with a smile and shouted: "Sir, don't stand on the bow of the boat. The river ahead is a bit turbulent and the waves are big. Be careful not to fall."

"Hehe. Save it."

Geng Qing patted the fence by his hand, watching the waterfowl flying across the field of vision in the distance and rushing to the river, the moment the waves splashed, he caught a small fish and flapped its wings and flew to the reeds on the river bank.

"Okay" was not finished yet, a big wave came up on the turbulent river, the bow of the boat heaved and shook, and the water splashed on Geng Qing's face, even his clothes and chest were wet.

Uh.
Looking at the water stains all over his body, Geng Qing hurriedly backed away, turned around with a smile and said to the boatman who was watching: "This slap in the face is really fast."

Frank self-deprecating can often subtly resolve embarrassment. The boatman and the boatman laughed out of good intentions, took the towel and gave it to him. With a smile on the corner of his mouth, he cupped his hands when he saw Geng Qing looking over.

"Lang Jun, you are so calm and composed, let me admire you."

"I've always flattered people. I'm very familiar with this, so don't come here. I don't know your name?" Geng Qing wiped the water stains on his face, handed the towel to Dou Wei, and sat down with the scholar. On the bench next to him, he announced his name.

Then someone asked the boatman to boil a pot of hot tea, so that it was sunny after the rain, and on the boat again, why didn't there be any tea to suit the occasion.

Hearing some casual words, the scholar was stunned for a while with a rather serious face, then he smiled and said: "My surname is Qin, my name is Huaimian, I am from Dai County, Shatuo people made trouble before, so it is not easy to travel, now I heard the notice has passed After calming down, I left home and rushed to Chang'an to take this year's provincial exam."

Province test?

What the hell is this? The exams that Geng Qing often listened to were only the Chunwei and Qiuwei in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Where had he heard of this? How could he feel the ancient times, and he seemed to be illiterate.

He turned his head to look at the fat county magistrate, who had a blue face and retched a few times. The latter raised his fat face weakly with drooping eyelids, wiped the corners of his mouth, and waved his sleeves weakly.

"Look at what I'm doing. I told you that my official bought it. How can I understand this?"

Maybe I heard Zhao Hongjun's phrase, "Officials are bought." The strong scholar's face was a little cold, and he hummed through his mouth and nose. He knew that the fat man was the young man in front of him. Geng Lang speaks well, and he is always surrounded by many people, all of whom are martial artists, have you ever practiced martial arts yourself?"

"Martial arts?" Geng Qing was stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect the other party to ask this question, "No, I just know a few moves, such as iron sand palm. If I have time in the future, I might be able to practice subduing dragon palm." .”

Dragon? !
Qin Huaimian frowned, raised his hand to stop, "Don't let Geng Lang say these words, don't let others listen to it, and cause trouble for the upper body. By the way, Geng Lang is also going to Chang'an on this trip?"

The words were not good, the scholar's mind turned quickly, and he quickly changed the topic. Over there, Geng Qing didn't think he was pedantic. After all, most people think this way these days, so he nodded immediately.

"The whole family moved to Chang'an, planning to do some business there to earn a living."

Scholars, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen are looked down upon in any dynasty, especially the more they go to the capital, the more so, but the scholars there can also hear that this is a modest word. Which businessman can make a county magistrate follow him? Beside, although it is a bought official.

The two chatted casually for a while, and Geng Qing casually asked about the provincial examination. If the other party can pass high school, wouldn't he befriend another future dignitary?

"The provincial exam will be in mid-August. The provincial regular exam is not too difficult, but I have already passed the exam twice. Hehe, if I don't make it to the list this year, I can go back to my hometown, marry a wife and have children, and live the rest of my life."

"Hearing Brother Qin's words, I was a little discouraged. I am not a scholar, but I know that those who read the books of sages and sages are all ambitious and courageous. Brother Qin has only been so depressed twice this time. Then all the hard work he has put in these years Isn't it all in vain?"

In Geng Qing's words, the scholar may not understand the meaning behind it, he pursed his lips tightly, and slightly turned his face away.

". Geng Lang is not the first to say this in words of persuasion, but what can I do next? The beacon fires in the south of the Yangtze River, the thieves are watching, and the Shatuo people and Khitan people in the north are staring at them like a tiger, just like a flood, waiting for the embankment to collapse. .In the imperial court, the eunuchs dominate me, so even if I have a heart, I will be worn out."

Speaking of this, he was in a low mood, got up and walked to the side of the ship with his hands behind his back: "Liu Yunzhang, who stayed behind in Dongdu, once made a direct remonstrance, saying that the country has nine ruins. Two breaks; power and extravagance, three breaks; generals not court, four breaks!"

He raised his fingers and counted down one by one, and his words were sonorous and forceful: "Building Buddhist temples widely, five breaks; bribing public companies, buying and selling officials, these are six breaks."

Thinking of this, the scholar looked at the fat county magistrate on the other side of the boat, and he spoke faster, "The officials are cruel, seven times; taxes and duties are not equal, eight times. There are many food earners, but few taxpayers, nine times. All in all, the Tang Dynasty has been great for more than 300 years, and those who have been pierced by these nine holes are full of holes, Geng Lang, how can you not be cold-hearted."

This tall and burly scholar opened his mouth, but he was speaking righteously. Looking at his back, Geng Qing could tell that he was a pragmatic person with ideals, but with this ideal in mind, he gradually became dissatisfied. It's getting cold.

"Perhaps, your method is wrong?"

Seeing him turning his head back, Geng Qing smiled, got up from the bench, walked to the side of the scholar, and looked at the river bank and the countryside passing by from the ground together.

"If you want to become an official, there are many ways to do it. You can't hang yourself on a tree. If the road is impassable, then change another road. Maybe this road is a shortcut? Don't rush to refute. Listen to me and finish."

Geng Qing waved his hand and continued: "Human life, but in just a few decades, maybe even less than a few decades, how many opportunities are there for you to try and make mistakes? If you waste too much time on exams, even if you have a few years in the future In Ri High School, I got my wish, but I found myself in the bronze mirror with gray temples, how much energy do I have to complete the rest of my dream?"

The river wind blew on his face, stroked his long beard, Qin Huaimian bit his lips, wanted to refute, but couldn't say it, and continued to stop quietly.

Geng Qing pressed the guardrail and watched the waterfowl jumping over the water: "If there is a shortcut, it will save a few years or ten years of time. With these few years or ten years, you can do more things. After stepping into the coffin board , Looking back at myself along the way, what I thought in my heart has actually unconsciously become what I want, and I have proved myself and this world.”

"Geng Lang"

The impact of these words made Qin Huaimian's thoughts a little confused. He stood there for a while, and then spoke intermittently. He didn't know if he had figured it out. He arched his hands heavily: "Geng Lang said that Qin can be taught."

Ha ha.

Geng Qing smiled and cupped his hands to return the salute, and bowed slightly to him, "There are still two or three days left before we go to Chang'an, we want to help Brother Qin in the same boat, so we might as well talk more and prove the truth to the world together."

Feeling the self-consistent and simple demeanor of the young man, the scholar's face was full of joy, and with the acquaintance just now, he bowed his hands and bowed down.

"Geng Lang invites me, but I can't ask for it!"

The scholar gladly accepted the invitation, his face was full of joy. He didn't know how much he had gained from what he said just now, but it was a great reward to listen to some of it. His strong body happily ran to the bookcase and took out some books Probably to read with Geng Qing.

On the side, the fat county magistrate glanced wearily.

"If you don't want to be an official, it's a shame."

"Isn't this trip to Chang'an just to be an official?" Geng Qing smiled at him, flicked his sleeves, and pulled away the scholar who was carrying his burden behind him and walked towards him waving.

The two sat on a bench on the deck, talked about the content of some books, exchanged insights, and occasionally talked about things in the world. In the next few days, this was mostly the case. On the afternoon of the third day, they left the boundary of Hezhong Mansion and walked along the Yellow River On the way, looking at Tongguan, on the afternoon of the [-]th, we sailed into Chang'an, Gyeonggi Province.

(End of this chapter)